Al Dhafra delight as Iraqi teenager Humam Tariq moves from Al Ahli

DUBAI // The fans in the Arabian Gulf League will finally get a chance to see the talented 18-year-old Iraqi Humam Tariq after Al Ahli approved his move to Al Dhafra on a one-year loan deal.
Tariq, who won a bronze medal with Iraq at the Incheon Asian Games on Thursday after their 1-0 win over Thailand, will replace Brazilian Paulinho at the Western Knights. He is the second foreign player to be changed by Dhafra before the close of the transfer window – Moroccan winger Youssef Kaddioui came in earlier for Argentine Matias Defederico.
Khamis Al Mansoori, the Dhafra vice president, was delighted with the new signing and was “confident the team will achieve better results in the coming stages” with their two new foreign players and new coach Marin Ion.
Tariq, who made his debut for the senior national team at age 16, was linked with several European clubs after his impressive performance at the 2013 Gulf Cup in Bahrain, where Iraq lost to the UAE in the final. Ahli managed to beat the competition and sign him for what has been reported as a five-year deal.
The teenager has never had an opportunity to exhibit his talents in the AGL, although he was in contention for the Asian player’s spot both last summer and for this season. He failed to get the nod even after Ciel’s injury as Ahli re-registered senior pro Hugo Viana as a replacement.
In other movements in the final hours of the transfer window, Al Shabab have allowed two of their players to leave – goalkeeper Ismail Rabea has signed a three-year deal with Al Wasl, and defender Hamdan Qassim has moved to Emirates on loan for a year.
Rabea will compete for the starting position with Rashid Ali and Yousuf Al Zaabi.
Al Shaab’s Obaid Al Taweela will, meanwhile, return to the Division One club after being loaned out to Al Wasl for just two matches – the 5-1 loss to Ahli and the goalless draw at Al Nasr.
With doubts about the fitness of their top two goalkeepers, Wasl had brought in Al Taweela on loan until the end of the season and the former Al Ahli No 1 has accepted the decision to cut short his stay.
“I have a contract with Al Shaab until the end of the 2015/16 season and it is their right to send me on loan or keep me at the club,” he said. “But I promise the fans, if I play for Shaab, I will do everything I can to help them get back to the professional league.”
Kalba, who are languishing at the bottom of the league table with one point from four matches, have also made two additions to strengthen their squad. The club have signed former Al Ain and Al Wasl goalkeeper Saif Al Badi and midfielder Hamad Al Marri, who has played for Al Ain and Al Dhafra in previous seasons.
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